SAM:I:TIDE, the dynasty which succeeded that of the Arsacidre on the -throne of Persia (q.v.). derived its name from Sassan, the grandfather of the newly elected mon arch AaDtsutn. The reign of the Sassanidac is remarkable in the history of Persia, not for the extent of their sway, or the luxury and mangifieence of their court, though in these respects they could vie with the Achnemenidre at the epoch of their greatest power and splendor, but for the intense energy which they succeeded in infusing into the people at large. A comparatively small army of Greeks might and did sueces,fully strive icosinst the immense hordes of a Xerxes and a Darius; but the veterans of Rome could gain no permanent labrels in a conflict whir an equal force of Persians under the Sassankke. Ardishir made the desert of Khiva and the Tigris his boundaries, and resigned the throne to his son, SHAIIPOR 1. (SAroll) (240-273 A.D.), who subdued Armenia, took Algezira (258) and Nisibis, totally routed the Romans at Edessa, taking, prisoner the emperor Valerian and the relics of his army, and overrunning Syria. Cap padocia, and other portions of western Asia. This monarch paid as much attention to the prosperity of his subjects and the encouragement of the fine arts as he (lid to the extension of his power; but his enlightened plans were not carried out by his immedi ate snceessom—NAnsi (NAnEs) (294-303) retook Armenia, and signally defeated the Romans under Galerius; hut fortune deserted him in the following year (297).—Ilis grandson, SuAnrun II. (310-381). surnamed Posrnumus, an infant, succeeded, and Persia, during his minority, was much harassed by the Arabs. Romans. nod Tartars; but Shalipur hail no sooner taken in his hounds the reins of government than in return he ravaged Yemen, punished the Tartars, and took the sole revenge at that time in his power against the Romans, by commencing a dieadful pereHnution of the Christians in his dominions. A regular war speedily followed: the arinv of Constantino was routed at Singarah, and he was compelled to sue for peace. Ent the war continued; Constant tius's successor. JliXa. was defeated, and lost his life (363) near Ctesiphon, and the Romans were glad to conclude the humiliating peace of Dura. Armenia, Iberia, and the other Caucasian principalities were then reduced by Shahpur. The wholesome (error thins infused into the Ronitins effectually restrained them from aggressions for many years.—Among his successors were BAIIARAM V. (420-148), surnamed Goon, who
recommenced hostilities with the Romans, Ole result. being a partition of Armenia and a truce for 100 years; and KoDAD (CoDADEs or CABADES) (488-498, 502-531), a wise and able monarch, who. on the Romans refusing any longer to pay the stipulated tribute, declared war against them, and defeated them in every engagement. concluding peace (505) on receiving 11.000 lbs. of gold. A. second war, which commenced in 521, was from beginning to end in favor of the Persians, though the Romans at that time pos sessed a staff of generals unsurpassed at any previous epoch of their history. The weir continued for some time after the accession of Kunsou I. (q.v.) (531-579). and was con tinued at intervals till nearly the conclusion of the century, when another great Persian conqueror, KIIVSRU• II. (q.v.) (591-628). ascended the throne; but the details of his annihilation of the Roman power in Asia, and the resistless march of Ileumfins (q.v.), who again cooped up the Persians withiu the Tigris, and inflicted upon the Sassanidie a blow from which they never recovered, will be found under these names.—After f our years of petty civil war, which wore out the remaining strength of the nation, YESDI. OEM) III. (G32-651) was raised to the throne. The Arabs. who had already twice attacked Persia without success, made a third attempt in 089, and routed YeAligerd's army at Ktalseali (Cadesia) with immense loss. Yesdigerd made another energetic att2mpt to rescue his kingdom; but the great battle of Nahavend, in which inure than 100.000 Persians are said to have been slain, extinguished all hope of success; and the unfortunate monarch became a fugitive and a wanderer in northern Khorassan till 651, when he was treacherously murdered. —Thns perished the dynasty which had pulled down the Itomaus from their proud pre-eminence among nations by the Lands of a hor..'e of robber fanatics, under whose barbarous rule the extensive pros perity and relined civilization which had beeu so carefully fostered for four cento•ies, were utterly swept away, leaving only such traces us ruined aqueducts, choked-up canals, and the still magnificent remains of almost forgotten cities.